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COMMUiNICATION FKOM HIS HO.NOK THE MAYOR, 

RECOMME.VDIXG THE PURCHASE OP 

Hiabarrl's Duplicate Copy 

OF TITR 

STATUE OF ^yASHINGTON, 

BY nOUDON. 



9 



M i ^^^ YORK: i ^ 

I CHARLES W. BAKER, PRINTER, 20 BEEKMAX STREET. *■'* 

r^ 1860. Hi 



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REPORT 

OF THE 



The Committee on Arts and Sciences, to whom was re- 
ferred tlie accompanying communication from his Honor 
the Mayor, transmitting a copy of the memorial of W. J. 
Hubard, who possesses a duplicate copy of the statue of 
Washington, by Houdon, taken from life, and which he 
proposes should be placed in some suitable position in this 
city, respectfully 

REPORT: 

That the proposition of Mr. Hubard, to dispose of a dupli- 
cate copy of the statue of Washington, taken from the 
original of Houdon, to this city, in order that, by such 
means and through the indorsement of this city of its 
resemblance to the great original, it might become the 
standard for the image of the Nation's Father, was re- 
ceived with much favor by your Committee. The import- 
ance of securing to ourselves and posterity a perfect de- 
lineation of the form and features of the immortal Wash- 
ington, was sensibly impressed upon the minds ol your 
Committee, and they determined to obtain from Mr. 



Hubard the statue in his possession, if, upon examina- 
tion, it was found to be as represented, a faithful and 
reliable copy, from the cast of Washington's person, taken 
by Houdon, and Mr. Hubard Was directed to produce 
the proofs in his possession necessary to convince your 
Committee of its authenticity and reliability. Accord- 
ingly Mr. Hubard in person appeared before your Com- 
mittee, and exhibited to them copies of original letters, 
written by Washington himself, Franklin, Jefferson and 
the artist Houdon, all relating to the original cast made 
from the person of Washington, while the papers neces- 
sary were produced wnder the seal of the Commonwealth 
of Virginia, and from the Hon. Joseph Mayo, Mayor of 
Richmond, demonstrating the fact, to the entire satisfac- 
tion of the Committee, that Mr. Hubard by legislative 
enactment was secured the exclusive right or privilege 
of duplicating Houdon's original. 

Your Committee propose, in order to prevent the pos- 
sibility of a doubt existing in the public mind, and to allay 
any cavil that might arise among artists, or those claiming 
already to be in possession of authentic copies of Washing- 
ton, differing in almost every essential particular, from 
the statue by Houdon, to enter at length into a statement 
of the facts and historical reminiscences connected with 
the statue of Houdon. The circumstances connected with 
the making of this statue are as follows: — At the close of 
the war. Congress passed a resolution, requiring an eques- 
trian statue to be made in honor of General Washington. 
No appropriation was made, and the subject was aban- 
doned. No sooner, however, than the legislature of Vir- 
ginia vras convened, than a resolution was unanimously 



passed, requiring his image to be made in the purest mar- 
ble, and by the most eminent sculptor of Europe. The 
sum of one thousand guineas was a[)propriated, and the 
commission assigned to Jefferson and Franklin. The very 
inadequate appropriation for such a work was made 
rather in ignorance, than from any desire to limit the 
glory of the monument. Doubtless the impoverished coq- 
dition of ihe state had ranch to do with this apparent 
under-estimate of a high class of sculpture A warrant 
issued for the first instalment will give some idea of the 
circumscribed means of the Treasury. 



WARRANT TO TH01[AS JEFFERSON, ESQ. 

Saturday Oct. 30, 1784. 
•"Out of the first money that shall arise, under the law 
for recruiting the State's quota of men in the Continental 
army, for the purpose of procuring a statue of General 
Washington. 

".£5.50 sterling. " By order of the Executive." 

When Jefferson joined Franklin, who was then in Paris, 
and consulted with him and several illustrious personages, 
connected with the Court, who promptly suggested that 
the task should be given to Houdon, they found, however, 
the amount placed at their disposal was barely the half of 
the value of such a work. The Commissioners hesitated, 
therefore, in offering the work to Houdon. They did, 
however, do so, in obedience to their instructions. To 
their infinite surprise, Houdon replied, "It would be 
the glory of his life to be enabled to place his name hum- 



bly upon the plinth of a statue representing that good and 
great man.'' 

No sooner had this noble artist committed himself, than 
he became aware of the difficulty he would encounter, in 
seeking to be released from several important engage- 
ments with several European Governments. The one 
which caused him most concern was with the Empress of 
Russia, who expressed surprise that so great an artist 
should relinquish honors and fortune, to risk his life in 
crossing an ocean "to make the statue of a Colonial rebel." 

The Executive of Virginia had caused a copy of a full- 
length portrait, by C. W. Peale, to be sent as material 
for the statue. Houdon rejected all idea of relying upon 
any such slender guide, and told Jefferson it would be 
absolutely necessary for him to see the great Washington 
himself. This surprised and delighted the Commission, 
although it involved an additional expense, which was 
only considered in connection with their very limited 
means. 

To obviate this difficulty, they wrote to Adams in 
London, asking the Life of Houdon to be insured during 
his absence. This was happily effected, and Houdon 
sailed with Franklin, from England, on the 27th of July, 
1785, and arrived in Philadelphia on the 14th of Septem- 
ber of the same year. 

Jefferson had written to the Executive, respecting 
Houdon's determination to visit America, and, in return, 
was warmly congratulated on having effected so desirable 
a negotiation. He wrote to Washington, also, the follow- 
ing letter: 



TO GEN. WASHINGTON PROM JEFFERSON. 

" Parts, July 10, 1785. 
" Dear Sir: — Mr. Houdon would much sooner have had 
the honor of attending you, but for a spell of sickness, 
which long induced us to despair of his recovery, and 
from which he is but recently recovered. He comes now, 
for the purpose of lending the aid of his art to transmit 
you to posterity. He is without rivalship in it, being 
employed from all parts of Europe, in whatever is 
capital. He has had a difficulty to withdraw himself from 
an order of the Empress of Russia — a difficulty, however, 
that arose from a desire to show her respect, but which 
never gave him a moment's hesitation about his present 
voyage, which he considers as promising the brightest 
chapter of his history. I have spoken of him as an artist 
only; but I can assure you, also, that as a man, he is dis- 
interested, generous, candid, and panting after glory — in 
every circumstance meriting your good opinion. He will 
have need to see you much, while he shall have the honor 
of being with you, which you can the more freely admit, 
as his eminence and merit give liim admission into genteel 
society here." * "-■' •• ■■ * 

In writing to the Governor at the same time, he said 
Houdon had acceded to their terms, although he was con- 
fident he would be a considerable loser; Jefferson wrote, 
also, to the Virginia delegates in Congress, urging upon 
them to bring up the sultjcct of the equestrian statue; he 
reminded them of the glory of having the work done by 
so great an artist: one "that was entirely without ri- 
valship."' 



6 

When Franklin and Houdon arrived in Philadelphia, 
Washington wrote the following letter: 

GEN. WASHINGTON TO BBNJ. FRANKLIN. 

" Mount Vernon. Sept. 26, 1785- 
" When it suits Mr. Houdon to come hither, I will ac- 
commodate him in the best manner I am able, and shall 
endeavor to make his stay as agreeable as I can." * * * 

FROM WASHINGTON TO HOUDON. 

" Mount Vernon, Sept. 26, 1785. 

"Sir: — By letter, which I have lately had the honor to 
receive from Doctor Franklin, at Philadelphia, I am in- 
formed of your arrival at that place. Many letters from 
very respectable characters in France, as well as the Doc- 
tor's, inform me of the occasion, for which, though the 
cause is not of my own seeking, I feel the most agreeable 
and grateful sensations. I wish the object of your mission 
had been more worthy of the "masterly genius of the first 
statuary in Europe, for thus are you represented to me. 

" It will give me pleasure, sir, to welcome you to this 
seat of my retirement; and whatsoever I have or can 
procure, that is necessary to your purpose, or convenient 
to your wishes, you must freely command, as inclination 
to oblige you will be among the last things in which I 
shall be found deficient, either on your arrival or during 
your stay." 



PROM WASHINGTON TO THOMAS JEFFERSON. 

'• Mount Vernon, Sept. 26, 1785. 
•; * * ->r * J gjjg^j^ jj^jjg great pleasure in showing 
Mr. Houdon every civility and attention in my power, 
during his stay in this country, for I feel myself under 
personal obligations to you and Dr. Franklin (as the State 
of Virginia has done me the honor to direct a statue to be 
erected to my memory), for having placed the execution 
in the hands of so eminent an artist and so worthy a char- 
acter." -^ * * * 

Washington received Houdon at Mount Vernon with 
great distinction and cordiality. The artist's admiration 
on beholding his subject, exceeded all anticipation, which 
he afterwards expressed to Jefferson, saying, that it was 
well he went, for although he had conceived the great pat- 
riot to be an imposing personage, he had no idea of the gran- 
deur of his form, features and presence. He solicitedWash- 
ington to submit to having plaster casts taken of his head 
and whole person, which was at first refused with great 
repugnance, yet so completely did Houdon win the regard 
of his illustrious host, that he finally replied, " Do with 
me as you please: I can refuse you nothing.' The scru- 
j)ulously modest Washington did permit himself to be laid 
nude upon a table, and buried in plaster from head to foot; 
the sculptor remarking, after the operation, that he would 
transmit him just as he was, for he was too grand an 
object, and too glorious a character to trust to the dicta- 
tion of art, or the embellishments of fancy. In packing 



8 

up the moulds, he separated those of the head, determin- 
ing to take them in his own charge, which excited some 
surprise; and in reply to the question as to his motive, he 
said, " If they are lost in the ocean, I am determined to 
perish with them." He preceded his assistants by a more 
expeditious conveyance, and arrived in Paris, January 22, 
1786. 

Previous to leaving Mount Vernon, he made a clay bust, 
by forcing the material into his mould, which obliged the 
transfer to be accurate. He simply regulated the surface, 
and imparted to the features the expression he treasured 
during familiar intercourse with his distinguished host. 
He presented to Washington a similar bust, as a testimo- 
ny of his regard and gratit'ide for the marked hospitality 
and kindness he had received. 

Jefferson, in speaking of Houdon's method, remarked, 
that he built up the statue perfectly nude, which was evi- 
denced from the closely-defined and characteristic anatomy. 
Jefferson, still later, spoke of his surprise that Boudon 
should have hit upon an attitude so strikingly individual 
— one that he had seen Washington assume on all im- 
portant occasions. He considered the whole figure so 
truthful, that he would recognize each part separately. 

Washington, in writing to the Marquis De Lafayette, 
said: "I have now to thank you for your favors of the 
9th and 11th of July; the first by Mr. Houdon, who staid 
no more than a fortnight with me, and to whom, for his 
trouble and risk in crossing the seas (although I had no 
agency in the business), I feel myself under personal obli- 
gaiions." ■* ^ ^ 



A correspondence occurred, respecting the dress, which 
is contained in the following letters: 

FROM JEFFERSON TO WASHINGTON. 

" Paris, 4th January, 1786. 

" I have been honored with your letter of September 
the 26th, which was delivered to me by Mr. Houdon, who 
is safely returned. He has brought with him the moulds 
of the face only, having left the other parts of his work 
with his workmen, to come by some other conveyance. 

"Dr. Franklin, who was joined with me in the superin- 
tendence of this just monument, having left us before what 
is called the costume of the statue was decided on, I can- 
not so well satisfy myself, and I am persuaded I should 
not so well satisfy the world, as by consulting your own 
wish or inclination as to this artick-. Permit me, there- 
fore, to ask you, vv-hether there is any particular dress, or 
any particular attitude, which you would rather wish to 
be adopted? I shall take singular pleasure in having 
your own idea executed, if you will be so good as to make 
it known to me." 

FROM WASHINGTON TO JEFFERSON. 

"Mount Vernon, 1st August, 1786. 
" In answer to your obliging inquiries, respecting the 
dress and attitude which I would wish to have given to 
the statue in question, I have only to observe, that not 
having sufficient knowledge in the art of sculpture to 
oppose my judgment to the taste of connoisseurs, I do not 
desire to dictate in the matter; on the contrary, I should 
even scarcely have ventured to suggest, that perhaps a 



10 

servile adherence to the garb of antiquity might not be 
altogether so expedient, as some little deviation in favor 
of the moder 71 costume, i^ I had not learnt from Colonel 
Humphreys, that this was a circumstance hinted in con- 
versation by Mr. West to Mr. Houdon. The taste, which 
has been introduced in painting by West, I understand, is 
received with applause, and prevails extensively." 

FROM JEFFERSON TO WASHINGTON. 

"Paris, 14th August, 1787. 
" I was happy to find the letter of August 1st, 1786, which 
you did me the honor to write me, that modern dress for 
your statue, would meet your approbation. 1 found it strongly 
the sentiment of West, Copley, Trumbull and Brown, in 
London; after which, it would be ridiculous to add that it 
was my own." 

Houdon no sooner saw Washington, than he settled this 
question of costume himself; yet, he was obliged to defer 
to the judgment of the Commissioners before he felt at 
liberty to press his own views. The discussion which took 
place in London, originated in the wording of the resolu- 
tion of Congress for the equestrian statue, which required 
Washington " to be represented in a Roman dress, holding a 
truncheon in his right hand, and his head encircled in a laurel 
wreath.'^ 

In confirmation of Houdon's intention regarding the 
dress, he had taken casts of Washington's watch seals, 
spurs, and even walking-stick, which are minutely 
represented in the statue. It will not be inapposite to 
state the singular coincidence, that when the artist 
engaged in the duplication of the Houdon statue, com- 



11 

menced strenuous efforts to enlist public attention to the 
suVjject of the isolated authenticity of the likeness, the two 
seals — one gold and the other silver — were simultaneously 
found in different sections of the State, after being lost for 
many years. One^ of these seals was ploughed out of the 
ground. 

Houdon objected to the length of the inscription de- 
signed for the pedestal. 

JEFFERSON TO MADISON. 

" Paris, February 8, 1786, 
" Houdon has returned. He called on me the other day 
to reaionstrate against the inscription for General Wash- 
ington's statue. He says it is too long to he put on the 
pedestal. I told him I was not at liberty to permit any 
alteration, but would represent his objections to a friend, 
who could judge of its validity, and whether a change 
could be authorized." * * * * 

The sculptor did not put the inscription upon the 
pedestal, but sent the blank block of marble, and placed, 
simply, " George Washington" upon the plinth, or ground 
upon which the feet of the statue stand. This inscription, 
in sentiment, is a just and beautiful tribute — yet, it is too 
much of the tomb-stone order, to be connected with a 
statue which speaks its own history, and needs no epitaph, 
because it represents an immortal moral, and the actual 
life. 

The statue progressed with great rapidity, and Houdon 
worked with the concentrated sauguineness of a prophet; 
for this labor of enthusiasm admitted of no distraction of 
attention, and his whole soul was absorbed with the 



12 

glorious idea of his name descending to posterity in con- 
nection with that of the " Father of Human Freedom." 

The statue was completed, and erected in the State- 
house of Virginia, in 1788, but the inscription, which was 
written by Madison, upon his knee, during the proceed- 
ings of the resolution, was not placed upon tlie pedestal 
until 1814. 

The education and career of Houdon, differed very 
materially from his cotemporaries, particularly from those 
who made likenesses of Washington. His studies were 
pursued with an earnestness and devotion that enabled 
him to master every intricate branch of fine art. No 
intoxicating passions, no frivolous propensities or vagrant 
fickleness of taste diverted his attention from the noble 
path he had determined to pursue. He continued a severe 
student throughout a long life; and although he made no 
demonstration in favor of tiie revolutionary movements in 
his own country, he admired enthusiastically the character 
of Washington, and sympathized fully with the republican 
sentiment of the American colonists. 

Disgusted with the physical and foppish art of France, 
he went at an early age to Rome, where he soon forgot 
vulgar conventionalities, in studying the beauties of nature 
and the classic works of Ancient Greece. He soon be- 
came an oVyect of universal interest, and before he left 
Italy, the Pontiff secured two of his finest works — one of 
St. John, and one of St. Bruno — to place in proud associ- 
ation with the genius of antiquity. These works alone 
attest how many precious efi'orts of his fine genius must 
have perished by the hands of the brutal iconoclasts of the 
French Revolution. 



13 

Houdon's style was entirely new to northern Europe. 
He had abandoned the masquerading and mock fantastic 
fashion wliich had degraded refinement and art taste to 
bombast and sensuality. He discarded the voluptuous 
attitudes and gorgeous robing peculiar to the day of Louis 
XIV., which was vitiated by the depravity of the court of 
Louis XV. Houdon was about twenty-eight years old 
when Louis XVL ascended the throne. This monarch, 
though amiable and moral, was too carelessly educated, 
and was too indolent to strike at the root of the evils es- 
tablished by his infamous predecessor, who, by his disso- 
lute and corrupt examples, had vitiated the taste and 
habits of the aristocracy surrounding the throne. His 
profligacy extended to the Church, even with which, and 
the tyranny of the crown, and the bankruptcy of the govern- 
ment, the intelligent and middling classes of society were 
utterly disgusted. The common masses, like caged beasts, 
scenting carnage, growled, and shook their famished heads. 
Literature, likewise, had assumed a licentiousness destruc- 
tive of moral and religious restraint. The gaudy taste of 
" Louis the Great," had lost its only captivating imposture, 
luxurious beauty, and graceful elegance of deportment, — 
so that the bawd, disrobed of her coquettish propriety, 
rendered art a lascivious veil, or debauching mask for 
every description of vice. Fortunately, Houdon saw but 
little of this era, not having long returned from Italy, 
when the tomb closed over the incubus of royalty. Not- 
withstanding his grandson had, in a measure, disinfected 
the court of its moral pestilence, the corruption was too 
deeply rooted in the heart of the aristocracy to effect more 
than a superficial reform. The philosophers, a formidable 
junto, talked too plainly, and advocated too forcibly, the 



14 



subversion of priestcraft, and superstitious reverence, for 
the multitude not to perceive they had been the victims of 
the vilest tyranny. The hydras of the mass saw the 
timidity of the King, and the vacillating weakness of the 
ministry, and boldly raved about the liberty in America. 
Louis XVI. sympathized with the colonists, and applauded 
their effort to throw off the yoke of England; the enemy 
of France, little thinking the rejoicings this rebellion sent 
forth were ringing his own death-knell. 

One year after the erection of Houdon's statue of Wash- 
ington, which was cut out of a block of marble, quarried 
for an image of the reigning Bourbon, the Bastile fell into 
the hands of the people, and with its downfall crumbled 
the thrones of French Kings. 

Houdon, who ardently approved the revolutionists of 
America, and gave the most enthusiastic evidence of his 
admiration of Washington, withdrew from public notice, 
and shunned all participations of fellowship with the Re- 
publicans of his own country. He saw too plainly that a 
hellish spirit was let loose, and that blood and anarchy 
would subvert the patriotism of the nation. It was far 
different with many of his distinguished cotemporaries, 
both sculptors and painters, many of whom flocked around 
the red flag, joined in the butchery of the aristocracy, and 
the murder of the royal family. 

The fine arts, in the proper acceptation of the term, 
shared the fate of the throne. Indeed, their degradation 
was complete in the reign of Louis XV., and it was only 
during a few years of his grandson's prosperity, that they 
showed the least prospect of a revival. Hondon's pure 
taste and refined character, exerted considerable influence 



15 

in the schools, and he it was who first broke through the 
fantastic and allegorical styles, to give place to the study 
of the Greek classics, and the chaste portraiture of the 
beauties of Nature. 

Houdon was remarkable for the graceful delicacy of his 
females, and the ennobling characteristics and expression 
of his male statues. His rule of modeling his figures en- 
tirely nude, and draping them when his anatomy was per- 
fect, rendered the charming traits of form conspicuous, 
the whole contour symmetrical, and his drapery gracefully 
subservient to the undulating outline of the figure. His 
facility in composition, his vivacity of conception, .nnd his 
extraordinary power for individualizing, gave to his 
statues that truth and unity which made them counterparts 
of the originals, and beautiful versions of art and nature. 
In reviewing the magnificent era of the Grand Empire, 
when Italy, Spain, and Germany wei'C plundered to adorn 
Paris, it seems remarkable that French art remained at so 
low an ebb; for artists were munificently encouraged, yet 
their work partook either of the brutality of the Reign of 
Terror, the coarseness of the arena, the extravagance of 
the drama, or the formal lifelessness of gorgeous or sepul- 
chral architecture. David was the master-painter, and 
had been one of the bloody judges. The sculptors were, 
very many of them, of the same stamp, and the only im- 
provement they evinced, was in their drawing and close 
imitations of antique statuary. Canova was fascinated 
by the dazzling greatness of Napoleon, wlio induced him 
to leave his sunny and poetical Italy, to accept a sjilendid 
studio in Paris; but his noble soul sickened in its physical 
atmosphere, and after a few months' endurance of disgust, 



16 



solicited permission to return to his native land; and, 
as he says of himself, he did not draw a happy breath or 
inspiration, until he saw the southern side of the Alpine 
range. 

It is easy to understand why Houdon remained in 
retirement — not, however, in obscurity, for his name was 
familiar and beloved wherever learning and pure taste 
were cherished. His happy domestic relations attached 
him to France, and had much to do with his seclusion. 
The greater number of his fine works disappeared during 
the Reign of Terror, and the shock to his moral sense 
was so great, that he permitted the heroism of the new 
fraternity to overshadow his modest aspirations. He 
continued a hard student, through life, and left many 
evidences of his scientific acquirements, his accomplish- 
ments as a member of society, and his admirable individ- 
uality of character. Houdon's anatomical statue not only 
contributed to the founding the modern school of draw- 
ing and sculpture, but it has been adopted by the most 
eminent anatomists for 'the rules of proportion for the 
human body." He was a member of the Institute, and a 
knight of the Legion of Honor. He died in 1828. 

Your Committee have thus faintly endeavored to 
impress upon the minds of the Common Council, a just 
appreciation of the commanding genius and ability of the 
oniy artist that was ever permitted such intimate associa- 
tion with Washington, as to finally succeed in inducing 
that great and good man to submit his person to the 
unpleasant process of having plaster casts taken from his 
entire figure, in a state of nudity, in order to transmit to 
posterity a faithful delineation of the commanding form 



17 

and features of the "Father of Human Liberty," as well 
as to commemorate the disinterestedness of ihe man in 
abandoning many undertakings, or to speak more correct- 
ly, engagements, made svith patrons occupying the most 
exalted positions in the governments of the most power- 
ful nations of Europe — engagements calculated to increase 
his already firmly-established reputation as an artist, and 
to add materially to his pecuniary advantage, in order to 
engage in an undertaking at once hazardous and unprofit- 
able, but in keeping with his exalted ideas of patriotism 
and virtue. Such motives could actuate none other than 
an artist, ha\ing the greatest reverence and affection for 
the subject of his future labors, the desire of having his 
name associated with that of Washington— which your 
Committee have endeavored to gratify, being the only 
recompense he desired or sought — a sufficient guarantee 
itself that such a self-imposed undertaking, solely from 
respect for the great original, would receive the undivided 
care and circumspection necessary to transmit unimpaired 
the very form and feature of the man he reverenced, to 
succeeding generations. 

That he has succeeded, your Committee are satisfied 
will be universally conceded; and it now only remains for 
them to produce the authority given by the state of Vir- 
ginia for the erection of the statue, together with the ex- 
clusive right, given Mr. W. J. Hubard, to duplicate the 
Houdon statue, in order to prevent the desecration prac- 
tised by artists of a more recent period, in re-producing 
delineations of Washington. 

The following is the resolution, passed by the Legisla" 
ture of Virginia: 

3 



18 

"The initiatory steps taken, and final action of the 
Legislature, relative to the erection of the monument to 
Washington: 

" Journal of the House, Saturday, May 15th, 1784. 
" Resolved, That a committee be appointed to draw up 
an address to his Excellency, General Washington, ex- 
pressive of the thanks and gratitude of the House of Dele- 
gates, for his unremitted zeal and services in the cause of 
liberty, congratulating him on his return to his native 
county, and the exalted pleasures of domestic life. 

" Committee appointed:— Messrs. Ronald, Mann, Page, 
Hubard, Madison, Henry, Tazewell, Heath, Reau, Taylor 
of Caroline, Cary and Corbin. 

" Ordered, That it be an instruction to the same Com- 
mittee, to consider and report what further measures may 
be necessary for perpetuating the gratitude and venera- 
tion of his country to General Washington. * * * 

" Resolved, That the Executive be requested to take 
measures for procuring a statue of General Washington, 
to be of the finest marble, and best workmanship, with the 
following inscription on its pedestal, viz: — ' The General 
Assembly, of the Commonwealth of Virginia, have caused 
this statue to be erected, as a monument of affection and 
gratitude to George Washington, who, uniting to the en- 
dowments of the hero, the virtue of the patriot, and ex- 
erting both in establishing the liberties of his country, has 
rendered his name dear to his fellow-citizens, and given to 
the world an immortal example of true glory.' Done in 
the year of Christ, and in the year of the Common- 
wealth." ******* 



19 

From the following, it will be seen tbat VV. J. Hubard 
Esq , the present memorialist, is duly authorized, lor a 
limited period, to duplicate lloudon's statue of Washing- 
ton, made pursuant to the preceding resolves. 

•' Executive Department, Richmond, Va., 
'•March 15th, 1860. 
■' I, George W. Munford, Secretary of the Common- 
wealth, of the state of Viiginia, do hereby certify and 
make known, that W. J. Hubard has had, by authority of 
an act of the General Assembly of the state of Virginia, 
the exclusive right, for a limited period, to take casts from 
the original statue of Washington, by Houdon, now in the 
capital of the state; that he has made several casts in 
bronze from the same mould; that one of these casts has 
been purchased by the state, for the Virginia Military In- 
stitute, and is located at that institution, and is deemed to 
be a fac-simile of the original, and casts taken from the 
same mould may be relied on as authentic representations 
of Washington's statue here. 

" Given under my hand, the day and year aforesaid. 

"GEORGE W. MUNFORD, 
Secretary of the Committee of Virginia" 
" Virginia, to wit: 

" I, John Letcher, Governor of the State aforesaid, do 
hereby certify and make known, unto all whom it may 
concern, that George W. Munford, whose name is sub- 
scribed to the certificate annexed, is, and was, at the time 
of signing the same, the Secretary of the Commonwealth 
of the State of Virginia, duly appointed and qualified, 



20 

and tbat to all his official acts, full faith, credit, and au- 
thority, are due, and ought to be given." 

" In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my 
name, and caused the great seal of the State 
to be affixed hereunto. Done at the city of 
[l. S.J Richmond, the fifteenth day of March, in the 
year of our Lord, one thousand eight hun- 
dred and sixty, and of the Commonwealth 
the eighty-fourth. 

"JOHN LETCHER. 
" By the Governor, 

Geo. W. Munpoed, 

Secretary of the Commonwealth ^ 

The statue of Washington, by Houdon, illustrates the 
incident so emphatic in his history — the resignation of his 
authority as Commander-in-Chief of the army: It indi- 
cates the act as already performed. The figure stands in 
majestic repose, the head slightly elevated, and the eye 
calmly gazing at an elevated object far distant. The 
whole countenance expresses tranquillity of mind, and a 
soul at peace with the man. The rods, or fasces, repre- 
sent the thirteen states, and the spear-headed arrows the 
means of war; tlie band of peace binds them together in 
equal power. (There is an arrow to each State.) Upon 
this emblem of the confederacy, Washington reclines his 
sword and military mantle, and his hand resting open upon 
them, shows that he has resigned all official authority 
into the hands of the nation he has covered ^ith glory. 
The right hand, holding the cane of the civilian, expresses 
that he has become a simple citizen, and the plough in the 
rear indicates his future career to be that of his heart — 



21 

the cultivation of the earth. The yet gloved hand shows 
that he has but just resigned his commission. 

Mr. Custis, a short time before his death, stated, that he 
vividly recollected the process of Houdon's taking moulds 
from Washington's head and figure. He was about five 
years old when this occurred. He was in pursuit of his 
foster-father, when, entering a room, he saw him lying upon 
a table, covered with a sheet, and some persons doing 
something to the (eet. He was transfixed to the spot in 
mysterious fear, nor could he be taken away. He de- 
scribed his emotions as terribly intense with apprehension; 
that he remained throughout the process, and it so con- 
stantly revived in his mind as to become a haunting su. 
perstition. He said that no incident in his life was so 
constantly and vividly present as this extraordinary 
operation. 

The most flattering evidence of the resemblance of the 
statue to the original, and in which, perhaps unconsci- 
ously, a high and merited compliment was paid the great 
artist, fell from the lips of Lafayette, when he last visited 
this country. His first request was to be shown some 
representation of his dear friend. He shook his head at 
the picture of S;uart; he was then shown Trumbull's, and 
at once said tliat brought him to nlind; but when he stood 
before the statue by Houdon, he remained mute, and 
gazed upon it till the tears flowed from his eyes, and at 
last said, with quivering lip and deep emotion, " tiiat is 
the man himself: 1 can almost realize he is going to move." 

i'iie lioii. Joseph Mayo, Mayor of the city of Rich- 
mond, V"irginia, in a letter addressed to the Clerk of the 
Common Council of this city, for presentation to your 



22 

Committee, in speaking of the statue, says: " There can 
be no doubt, whatever, that this statue is the most au- 
thentic representation of Washington in existence. It 
was made from casts of Washington's head and whole 
person. I have been familiar with this statue from boy- 
hood, and have frequently conversed with contemporaries, 
who survived the illustrious patriot, and who I have 
heard say, it was the life itself. The Legislature of this 
state, by an act, gave to Mr. Hubard the sole right to cast 
from the original statue; I have seen several of his bronze 
casts, which I do not hesitate to say are, in my opinion, 
fac-similes of the original." 

The price originally named for the statue, by Mr. 
Hubard, was twelve thousand dollars, and from the in- 
vestigations made by your Committee, they are satisfied 
that that sum would only be a fair remuneration. They 
find it impossible to complete such a statue in less than a 
year, requiring very expensive labor, and the constant 
care and supervision of the artist. The exceeding hard- 
ness of the metal, the great' complication of the statue, 
and the great risk in casting, from its being in one entire 
cast, makes it nearly doubly expensive. The object of the 
hardness of the metal is, to secure permanency of color, 
and perfect durability of the material. Casting it whole, 
is to secure perfect exactness in the duplication, and to 
make it a thoroughly artistic work, instead of a mere 
foundry production. Profit, however, is not the object of 
Mr. Hubard, in devoting so much time and untiring energy 
and perseverance to the work in which he is engaged. A 
far higher and nobler motive actuates him in redeeming 
from mutilation, and preventing any further desecration 
of the loved form and features of the great original. Mr. 



23 



Hubard has consented to dispose of the statue in question 
to the city of New York, after incurring the risk, and 
paying the cost of transportation, together with many in- 
cidental expenses, for a sum similar to that paid him for a 
like work by the state of Virginia, at his foundry in 
Richmond, viz: ten thousand dollars; an amount which 
Mr. Hubard positively declares, and your Committee 
firmly believe, will not repay the first cost of the work; 
his anxiety to have the indorsement of the city of New 
York, the great metropolis of commerce and art, by adopting 
this statue as the standard image of Washington's appear- 
ance, by reason of which the whole world would ap- 
proach it with confidence and reverence, induces him to 
place upon his work, in this instance, the lowest possible 
price 

Your Committee, in conclusion, respectfully but earnest- 
ly urge upon the Common Council the importance of se- 
curing, at this time the statue of Washington, from the 
original of Iloudon, now in the possession of Mr. Hubard. 
An opportunity like the present will never again, in all 
probability, occur and we should be recreant to our trusts, 
did we permit this one to pass, of securing to our citizens 
and strangers a " shrine for the virtuous politician, the 
lover of liberty, and the devotee of the Union; for in the 
presence of this statue, there would be the realization of 
the actual man, and the mind would readily infuse into 
it the sublime spirit of the Nation's Father." 

The following resolution is, therefore, respectfully offered 
for your adoption: 

Resolved, That the Street Commissioner be, and he is 



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